Thug sentenced to 21 years for spate of violent crimes

7:11pm Friday 10th January 2014

By Ian Weinfass

A THUG who committed a string of violent attacks, including repeatedly stabbing an 18-year-old, has been jailed for 21 years.

Eric Cantona Brophy, 18, of St Mary’s Road, Southend, also left two teenagers with slash marks across their faces over the summer holidays last year and poured hot water over a fellow prisoner while he awaited trial.

Judge John Lodge sentenced him to 21 years in a young offenders institution today at Basildon Crown Court for a total of thirteen counts of crimes, mostly violent, spanning from June to November last year.

He told him: “You will not be released for 16 years and until the parole board are convinced that you no longer pose a danger to the public.”

In July he repeatedly stabbed Kaz Salih, 18, leaving him for dead in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff. A jury failed to return a verdict of attempted murder but he had pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Mr Salih required surgery after bravely asking him to return to return stolen goods to a group of teenagers Brophy had mugged at knifepoint. His wounds, after surgeons saved his life, are shown below:

In June he had stabbed Leon Calvin in the stomach before robbing him in Prittlewell Chase, Southend.

He had pleaded guilty to all the crimes for which he was sentenced today.

After the hearing, investigating officer Dc Mike Buckingham, said: "Brophy is a very dangerous individual who injured six victims in the space of a four week period this summer.

"Two of his victims sustained life threatening injuries.

"It shouldn't be forgotten that all four separate incidents were horrific in their own right and some of his victims are still struggling to come to terms with their traumatic ordeals. Our community is clearly a much safer place now that he is behind bars."